Towards the Light

A/N:
hey everyone, I would just like to apologise for the delay on this chapter. I have been flat out with Uni assignments for weeks. And I am sure you all have been experiencing some problems with fanfiction recently =/ But now I don't have assignments for about a month, so I'm happy to say that this story will be back on track :)

Also, I would like to say a big thank you to everyone that read the first chapter and is continuing to read my story! I was so happy to see that just over 200 people had read my story. It means a lot to know that you guys are taking the time to read it. I get so excited when the visitors/views count goes up. It really does make my day.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters. That honour belongs to the outstandingly creative and illustrious Kishimoto.

Here is Chapter 2!

Chapter Two: Spoke too soon.

As the trio stood within the gates of Konoha, flashes of how they had left it appeared in their minds. Now before them, buildings were left to rubble. This place that they had known better than the palm of their hands, had changed drastically in such a short amount of time. But at this moment, what was left of the buildings was not what was important now. It was those that has survived the war, being reunited with their loved ones, friends and team-mates.

As Sakura looked around, all she could see was people embracing one another. Sakura slowed her pace and looked at the backs of Sasuke and Naruto. Both of them had come so close to dying. She wouldn't have known what she would have done, if she had lost them both.

The three walked through the village and came at a stop in front of a building of wealth and tradition; the Huuga household. They were all silent.

...Neji…

The loss of one of their own, someone they had grown up with and considered him to be a friend. To Hinata, he was her cousin and almost like a brother, but more than that, he had helped her to become a strong kunoichi.

Sakura had not seen much of Hinata since the war ended. She thought her family and herself needed time to grieve the loss of their family member, before others start visiting to pay their respects.

The sound of feet moving against the ground, made Sakura turn towards its direction. Naruto was headed towards the house.

"Naruto! What are you doing?" exclaimed Sakura in a hushed tone, as to not draw attention from the others on the street and the grieving family inside.

"I need to see Hinata. I think she's taking Neji's death really hard." Naruto had a determination in his voice, but it was not hard, it was soft: Soft and caring.

Sakura felt her mouth turn up into a small smile. "I think she would like your company." And with that, Naruto was at the gate, waiting patiently for entrance.

That just left Sasuke and Sakura. The two of them started walking again in the direction they were going before. Sasuke started walking a little ahead of her so she allowed for him to lead her through the village.

Suddenly, he stopped. Sakura almost bumped into the back of him. She was about to tell him off for stopping suddenly, when she noticed the serious look on his face. She followed his line of gaze and then suddenly the words were caught in her throat.

They were now standing outside the entry to the Uchiha District. A place that had once held happy memories, of one of the Village's most prominent and powerful families, had been turned to a place of anguish and despair. So many people were killed in the blink of an eye. And Sasuke, he was so young when it all took place.

Thinking of it, nearly brought Sakura to tears.

She was pulled from her thoughts, however, when Sasuke spoke. "This is the first time I have been back here since…" he trailed off as though unable to speak the words.

Sakura was shocked. Sasuke had not uttered a word since they entered the village and she had not expected him to open up to her about something so personal. Usually he would brush her off saying that 'it was none of her concern'. She had always wanted Sasuke to open up to her. She had watched him suffer alone, and wanted so much to be a support for him. But he had never opened up to her, whether it had been his pride or the fact that he found her annoying, she would never know.

Too stunned to reply, she remained silent in the hope that he might continue.

He didn't.

Sasuke stared off into the distance, still looking into the Uchiha District but not focusing on anything in particular. Sasuke had indeed picked up on the flicker of surprise from Sakura's chakra when he had spoken. He didn't exactly know why he had made a step towards opening up to her. But since the war, he was determined to make it up to her and Naruto, after his conduct.

Sasuke stopped focusing on Sakura's chakra, when he sensed four other chakra signatures approaching and fast. They were faint. Sakura probably hadn't picked up on them, but now that he had, he needed to act. Instinctively, he took a step toward Sakura and whispered in her ear. He knew he only had a few seconds before they would arrive. "If something happens to me, don't fight or say anything. Just let it happen."

As he pulled away, he saw worry in her eyes. "But Sasuke, what do you mean?"

He could not give her a reply as four ANBU now surrounded them.

"Uchiha Sasuke, you are under arrest for crimes committed against Konoha by order of the council."

Sasuke understood what was happening, before they had even arrived. He placed his hand in his pocket and nodded his head to show he would go willingly. He then turned to Sakura. He could feel her chakra raging inside her. He hoped she wouldn't do anything stupid. There was no point in her getting herself into trouble when this is what he deserved. He had done those things, and now he needed to atone for his sins.

"You can't do this!" Sakura erupted. Sasuke activated his Sharingan and saw her building up chakra in her fists. 'Dammit Sakura' he cursed in his thoughts. He knew there was only one thing he could do now.

He teleported behind her, ready to make the blow to her neck like he had done once before. Sakura suddenly whirled around and caught his hand. "You will not do that to me again!" she snarled in anger.

"I'm sorry" was all he said to her.

He saw her meet his gaze and made sure he caught her before she hit the ground.

Sakura woke to find herself laying in a bed. She sat up looking around the room and realised she was in the hospital. But she had no recollection of going there or how she ended up falling asleep on one of the beds.

Just then, a nurse tapped on the door. She smiled as she walked in. "How are you feeling Sakura?"

"Fine, thank you. But I don't seem to remember how I got here?" she said slowly, sure she sounded stupid for asking.

The nurse gave a little laugh before replying. "A man came in carrying you and said you had fainted. He told us to make sure you were looked after."

'A man… fainted… this doesn't make sense' thought Sakura.

"Although it was strange…" said the nurse putting a finger to her chin. "It seemed like he was being escorted by a member of ANBU. Another nurse came in and told me she saw three others outside."

ANBU… A memory stirred within her. A voice whispering in her ear.

'If something happens to me, don't fight or say anything. Just let it happen'

She remembered feeling anger and then falling into darkness. Wait, there was something else. Something important.

'I'm sorry…'

She had heard those words and looked up at the man who had said them. Her viridian orbs met with blood red before everything went black.

… Sasuke.

She felt the anger returning to her as she remembered what he had done, and what the council had ordered the ANBU to do.

She stormed out of the room, out of the hospital and headed toward someone she knew would feel the way she did about this whole thing.

The one person she truly knew she could rely on.

Naruto.

In the Huuga house, there was a silence that encircled its entirety. A silence that was not deafening, it was somber and laced with peacefulness. For the point of mourning the loss of a loved one, is to find a way to be at peace with the loss. Of course the hole in your heart never closes, but you learn to live with it and find joy in the reminiscing of the happiness that person brought you.

Naruto had dealt with loss from a young age. Focusing on what he did have with that person, instead of what he had lost, is what got him through. Hinata had always been shy, quiet and unsure of herself. Now, she had been a support for him in his times of need. He hoped he could be of help to her during this sad time in her life.

Naruto and Hinata had been talking about Neji and the ways he had helped and supported them. After the talk, Hinata seemed more content.

"Naruto-kun, thank you for coming." Said Hinata, looking at Naruto beside her.

"No problem! I'm always here if you need me!" exclaimed Naruto.

Hinata's cheeks flushed slightly as she tilted her head down to look at her hands "D-did you maybe want to stay for dinner, as a way to say thank you?"

"Ok, I'm never one to turn down food! Haha" Said Naruto placing his hand behind his head as he laughed.

Just then, there was a knock at the main gates. Naruto looked over at Hinata. "Are you expecting anyone else for dinner?"

"N-no." said Hinata with a confused look on her face. The two of them got up and both went to investigate.

Over at the gates Naruto opened the gate slowly, keeping Hinata behind him.

"Hello…?" said Naruto in a semi-quiet voice.

The next thing he knew, a hand grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him outside the gates. "Uhaaaaaaahhhhhh!"

"Naruto-kun!" exclaimed Hinata as she peered around the doors to try and see what had happened. When Naruto had finally gotten his balance he looked at the hand grasping at his shirt. He then trailed his line of vision up the arm to the person standing before him.

"Nee Sakura-chan, what are you doing?" he said.

Instead of answering him, she turned to Hinata. "Sorry Hinata, I'm going to borrow Naruto for a while. It's an emergency!" With that, Sakura took off dragging a confused Naruto behind her.

Sakura came to a stop in front of the Uchiha District. "Sakura-chan, what are we doing here? What's going on?" said Naruto, concern now evident on his face.

"We were right here, and then suddenly we were surrounded and he… he seemed to know that it would happen and I tried to stop them but he put me under a genjutsu." Sakura was now breathing heavily. She had just blurted all of that out at Naruto so fast that she had forgotten to breathe.

"Wait, who was with you? And who took him?"

"Sasuke, I was here with Sasuke and the ANBU came and took him. Something about being the orders from the council" Sakura looked up at Naruto and saw him processing the information.

"I don't know where they would have taken him. To the Hokage tower? The council chamber? Or the prison?" Sakura started sounding frantic and Naruto picked up on it right away.

He stepped closer and placed his hand on her shoulder and smiled "Don't worry! We'll find him!"

Sakura gave Naruto a small smile as she nodded her head. With that, the two set off to find Sasuke.

With their chakra signatures cloaked, and using their stealth prowess, Naruto and Sakura had made it to the roof of the council chamber. They carefully moved along the roof until they were near the window. The pair stayed very still as they listened in on the meeting occurring below them.

" - and the village is in tatters! It will take months, maybe even years to rebuild"

"The rebuild is the least of our worries!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that we have an Uchiha sitting in one of our prison cells! But who knows how long that will hold him"

"The Uchiha boy is not to be trusted!"

"The Uchiha have done nothing but destroy this village!"

"He will end up being just like Madara! A cold blooded killer with a hunger for power!"

"Is that not the reason why he left the village in the first place?"

"Yes. So are we all in agreement then?"

"Yes, the Uchiha boy is not to be trusted"

Naruto and Sakura had been holding in a breath. They couldn't believe what they were hearing! At least they now knew where Sasuke was. Perhaps if they spoke to him, they would be able to come up with a plan to get him out. Naruto tapped Sakura gently on the shoulder motioning for her to follow him off the roof and in the direction of the prision.

The prison was dark, cold and lifeless. As Sakura followed Naruto's lead, she felt a chill run through her body. This was a place for criminals. Criminals that had betrayed the village and done harm to the people, but Sasuke couldn't be placed in the same category as them. He had reasons for his actions, whether it be misguidedness or his own stubbornness, his reason wasn't simply because he wanted to. They had just gotten Sasuke back. He can't be taken away from them again.

As they walked deeper into the prison, they started feeling the familiar chakra of Sasuke. Soon they had found him. He was sitting on the floor leaning his back against the only solid wall of his cell. Sakura said his name. It was barely a whisper, but he had heard it. He raised his head and looked up at the pair. Sakura did not like seeing Sasuke through the bars of a cell. Something inside her just knew that something was wrong about the whole situation. She just couldn't pin point what exactly.

"Oi teme, what's this I hear you getting arrested when you haven't even been in the village for a whole day?" said Naruto with a grin on his face.

"Your lucky I'm in this cell and they've been draining my chakra, otherwise I'd wipe that smirk off your face with my fist." Said Sasuke pushing himself up off the floor. He then turned to Sakura.

"Sakura, about before, you really didn't give me much choice." Said Sasuke calmly.

"Well you didn't have to be a jerk about it!" said Sakura, feeling the anger returning.

"If you had started a fight, you would be in a cell here too." replied Sasuke.

Sakura crossed her arms over her chest. She hated the fact that he was right. But she would not give him the satisfaction of admitting it aloud. Sasuke's face then turned serious. "I assume you're here to find out what's going on. I don't know much, but what they did say is that I'm going to remain in prision until the next Hokage is chosen. He or she will then determine my fate". Sasuke looked at Naruto. "They are in the Hokage Tower now working out who will replace Tsunade".

"But that could take days! Weeks!" exclaimed Sakura.

"Are you going to be alright down here teme till then?"

"Hn. It's not so bad. I don't have to hear your loud voice as much." said Sasuke smirking.

"You're the lucky one teme! You just wait till I get you out of here and then you won't even know what's coming!"

Sasuke smirked, "I'd like to see you try". Sasuke looked around. "You two better leave. I've been labeled as a dangerous criminal. If you were caught talking to me, it would get you in trouble and add to my list of crimes."

Naruto nodded and headed towards the exit. Sakura began to follow but turned her head back to look at Sasuke. He was looking in their direction. Their eyes met, and she had this feeling in the pit of her stomach. She didn't want to leave him there. But she knew she had to. She had to find out a way to convince whoever the new Hokage may be, to let Sasuke out of prison.

She heard Naruto called her name. She turned her head back and continued to follow him out of the prison.

When they made their way out, Naruto turned to Sakura. "Sakura, I think you should go home and rest".

"What?! But we haven't worked out a way to get Sasuke out" Said Sakura.

"It's late and there is nothing we can do until a new Hokage is chosen. There is no point staying up worrying when tomorrow is when Sasuke will need us."

Sakura took a minute to sink in what Naruto had said, and he was right. One of these days would find a way to control her constant worrying. So she said good night to Naruto and made her way home for some much needed rest. She had not slept in her bed for months. When her head hit the pillow, she realised just how exhausted she really was, and drifted off into a deep sleep.

A/N: And that's another chapter done! Hope you enjoyed it.

If you have some time, please leave a review and feel free to ask any questions.

Also, please let me know how you all feel about the length of the chapters so far?

Until next chapter.

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